1 man loses
72 relatives

3 relatives of Anthony Richard, all in their early 20s, are among 72 missing and presumed dead (courtesy: Vancouver Province)

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Just a few miles north of the U.S. border with Canada, Anthony Richard is in anguish from the tsunami which has devastated much of Asia.

The Domino's Pizza worker from Surrey, British Columbia, has discovered 72 of his relatives are missing and presumed dead.

"They are gone. A whole generation wiped out," the Sri Lankan native told the Vancouver Province.

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Richard, 46, moved to the Vancouver area 11 years ago with his wife, Mallika, and two daughters.

"My eldest sister and her two daughters are gone. My grandmom is gone. My brother's wife and three children are gone. We have lost 10 families," Mallika told the paper.

The Richards have already been informed 13 of their missing relatives are confirmed dead.

"You have to understand they live meters away from the water," Anthony said. "Land is cheap near the water and the whole community was swept into the ocean. There is no help for them. They couldn't have survived."

Unable to eat or sleep due to the grief, Anthony and his wife are now preparing a trip back to Sri Lanka, packing as many medical and health supplies as they can carry.

Already the family has several boxes containing food, syringes, vitamins, medical gloves, baby formula, and Tylenol.

"Nothing else matters right now," Anthony said. "I don't care for anything. I am proud that I am Canadian and it is a free country and I can find a job when I return. But right now I must go back."

Note: Those wishing to help the Richard family relief effort can contact the Sri Lankan Friendship Association at 604-588-3083. E-mail: [email protected]